Strengthening the sustainable management of the tropical dry forest and livelihoods in the municipality of Becerril (Cesar).

The department of Cesar in Colombia is home to important ecosystems such as dry tropical forests, moors and wetlands, as well as areas of great cultural and ecological importance. However, it faces serious environmental problems such as soil degradation, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural activity. These problems have caused the loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity, negatively affecting the quality of life of people in the region. Furthermore, their situation has been aggravated by the armed conflict and the presence of illegal armed groups, which has led to loss of livelihood and forced displacement. After the peace agreements with illegal groups, peasant communities are returning to the territory but face a lack of institutional support and have many unmet basic needs. The project aims to generate socio-ecological information and genetic diversity of the guaimaro to strengthen initiatives underway through the sustainable management of the tropical dry forest, so that it is possible to improve the livelihoods of local communities, productive processes and conservation of biodiversity in the municipality of Becerril (Cesar). This project is developed around an ongoing community project, in which a tree species (guaimaro, Brosimum alicastrum Sw.) native to the tropical dry forest is used. In this sense, we have proposed to: (i) characterize the forests where the guaimaro tree grows, examine the habitat preferences, the flora and fauna associated; (ii) understand the diversity and genetic connectivity of guaimaro populations in relation to landscape variables and conservation status of the forests where they are found. Based on these biological characterizations, the following will be proposed: (iii) management practices to promote the sustainable production of guaimaro and the strengthening of nurseries for the propagation of native species.

Genetic resources, sustainability, biodiversity, socio-economics, tropical dry forest

Two products for the Generation of New Knowledge or Technological Development. Two products of social appropriation of knowledge or public dissemination of science. A product of technological development and innovation. Two postgraduate thesis